Big City Dreams

Day Six: Paris

Day Seven: Notre Dame

Day Seven: Versailles

♥

Aztec print & hair wraps.

2011-09-29T16:24:00.000-05:00

Aztec pullover - Pacsun, cross necklace - thrifted

Just a quick post today... I got this sweater yesterday - i saw it in the store about a month or two ago, but didn't want to pay $50 it, until i saw it on a customer at work and thought, 'right, that looks so awesome on her, i'm getting it!' and voila, it's mine! Turns out it was 30% off, so i got this & a t-shirt for around $40 including tax. :) I tweeted about this already, but i am loving Pacsun. It has a bit of a reputation as being 'skater' & 'middle school', but i really like it. I'd say it's more of a laid back & fun style, not chic & sophisticated or anything, but i think it has a little something for everyone.

Faye posted recently (love her blog, it's so gorgeous & girly!) about hair wraps & braids and i was inspired to do a bit of my own! I followed the tutorial that she linked and although it was a bit hard to get started, it was easy once i got the hang of it. Since this was the first one i've done, it's not very good! Next one i do will definitely be in different colors (not really loving the purple + gold combo) and will choose a strand of hair in a different location - this one is in a bit of an awkward spot. I put a wooden bead with an L on it as well, kinda like it actually!

Had a nice two days off work, not ready to go back tomorrow, haha. :/

Hope you're all well. ♥

♥

Catch-up.

2011-09-28T18:37:00.002-05:00

Looking like a goon/leopard print cardigan from Goodwill - brand is New York & company, little metal ring from thrift store, working clock necklace (also from work), dream catcher (thrift store once again!), assembling my own furniture (girl power), organizing my vanity, vintage sale outtake.

I feel like so much has happened since my last chatty-type post & i'm feeling the need to fill you all in!
I suppose the biggest thing is that i got my license, i've had it for a little over two weeks now. The freedom is amazing, just not looking forward to designating most of my paycheck to gas & insurance every week! I suppose with freedom & all that good stuff comes responsibility & having to grow up a bit. *tear*
I also passed 700 GFC 'followers', which is madness! I don't say it much, but i really do appreciate everyone who takes the time to read/leave comments on this ol' blog. Thank you everyone! :) ♥
Have been obsessed with a few things lately, particularly: Drive, leopard print, the color red, dream catchers, and subtle jewelry.
I apologize for not blogging as much, i do miss it! Really wish i had more time not only to blog, but to catch up on everyone elses. Wish i had more free time, whenever i do get a little time off i usually spend it hanging out with friends, sleeping, or watching Youtube videos! The lighting has also been a bit crap for taking decent photos, but no more excuses. :P

I hope you're all doing well. ♥
Feel free to follow me on Twitter, i update that loads more. ;)

♥

My vanity.

2011-09-23T19:42:00.001-05:00

Although i'm still working on it, i thought i'd show you all my new vanity & makeup/hair storage arrangement! It's definitely not perfect and needs a bit of fine tuning, but i'm really pleased with it so far. For those of you who have been requesting an updated makeup collection, here it (kind of) is. I have to mention that i don't have a massive collection, i don't like to just collect a ton of makeup & have it sit in my drawer - i use what i have and yeah. :) Besides, most of my money goes to clothes or into savings anyway!

The vanity is the Shabby Chic Vanity from Target and i kept my computer chair from my old desk. I know it's a bit of an eye sore, but it's comfy enough & i don't have the money to scoop out on a nicer chair! So don't mind that. And don't mind the mismatching either, this set up is really working out for me right now and that's all i really care about at the mo!

Hope this is of interest to you all, although it is deffo still a work in progress. :)

I have replaced the tissue box with a mirrored tray from Target that i've put all my rings on. Not sure how i like the tray right next to the gold basket thing, kind of clashes i think! Will see what i decide to do with this situation. Anyway, behind my ring tray, i keep my perfumes, & my iPod dock (quite an eye sore!)

Inside the vanity drawer. It houses compacts, tools (eyelash curlers, tweezers, etc.), & my eyeshadow palettes (MAC, Sleek Makeup, and two Urban Decay).

I keep my q-tips & cotton balls in little glass containers i got from the thrift store - really handy! My liquid eyeliners, brow pencils, and eyeshadow primers are in the London mug - also from the thrift store. The next mug is from my kitchen cabinet and houses my mascaras. The next cup (with little horse heads on) is from my grandpa and stores my brushes. I keep my face primer and kabuki brush brush out as well, along with my dusting powder from Lush (as it's pretty), and a mascara i got in my Birchbox out on my vanity table.

Just to the left of that i keep my toner, makeup remover, moisturiser, allergy medicine, deodorant, chapstick, and a travel size bottle that i put my perfume in. It's just handy having it out all the time because i'm usually in a hurry & it's easier to access. To the left of those things is my old school makeup mirror (was my mom's from the 80s and i haven't found one that works better tbh!)

This VIKA Alex storage system from IKEA is literally my life, i don't know what i did without it! I know it doesn't match/go with the vanity at all, but it's so amazing i don't even care. It has two smaller drawers and three larger ones, and they are really deep & sturdy. I assembled this myself (along with the vanity.. girl power) and it is such great quality. I love it, if you didn't get that already. ;)

Top drawer keeps my hair tools and my headbands & scarves shoved in the back. Could probably make this look prettier, but can't be bothered haha.

Next smaller drawer is the rest of my makeup - i keep all my lip stuff in a Birchbox lid; my foundation, bronzers, concealers, blushes, and highlight/contour powder in that white plastic holder; and just kind of chucked individual shadows, drugstore/sample Lancome palettes, and my gel liner in the corner, along with a towel in the back.

The first larger drawer is a fun one, it's where i keep all my hair products! Shampoo & conditioner is all in the back, while mousses, hairspray, dry shampoo, heat protectant, etc. are all stacked on top of each other in the front. I stood up the smaller products, like CHI Silk Infusion & Got2B Powder'ful.

This is another reason i love this VIKA Alex, it can fit ALL my hair products. ;D

Next larger drawer is a bit miscellaneous really. I keep my nail polishes & nail polish remover in the back, and fake tan in the front; and Vaseline, back ups of products, and random skincare products fills up some of the rest of the space.

Last drawer is kind of a tangle of cords, but i keep heat styling tools & cotton balls in here.

♥

Vintage spree.

2011-09-10T13:24:00.001-05:00

Once a year, the thrift store i work at has a big vintage sale where we sell clothing, shoes (soo many boots!), hats, scarves, and bags that has been donated during the year & is considered 'vintage'. I wasn't expecting too much to be honest, but when i was helping tag the items & set it all up last night, i became obsessed with everything i saw! Since this is only a once-a-year sale, i have to pay full price for the items (usually get 50% off on clothes) and i can't stash anything for myself while i'm working. Since i work 3-9 tonight, i woke up super early this morning to get there first thing so i could have first picks.

I feel so lucky to work where i do! It's awesome to work with people who appreciate vintage things as much (or even more sometimes ;) as i do. ♥

You may notice something different about these photos from my last 'haul' type post, i've painted my room. No more pink! :)

Leather fringe vest - $8.99 / Member's Only-style jacket - $7.49

Grey sweatshirt w/ pink & blue detailing - $6.99 / Grandpa-style cardigan (came with belt) - $6.99

Teddy bear fringed tee (don't judge me) - $4.99 / Colorado tee - $5.99

Kennedy Space Center tee - $6.99 / Wisconsin tee - $4.99

Sequined jacket - $9.99 / bag - $6.99

Minnetonka fringe ankle boots - $6.99/7.99

I am obsessed with everything i got, my faves are probably the fringe vest & the red jacket though!

Which piece(s) is/are your favorites?

♥

Ready for autumn.

2011-09-06T17:14:00.002-05:00

top - Ralph Lauren, thrifted

jeans - Old Navy

booties - ALDO

bag - H&M

rosary - Forever 21

nails - Revlon Lilac Pastelle
(Again, these were taken after i came home from a long day at school so my makeup has been trashed & my face is very blah!)

Can you tell i'm ready for autumn to roll in? Bringing out the plaid, jeans, & leather boots - woop! Fall is by far my favorite season in terms of weather and i love the clothes you get to wear because of it. Definitely feel most comfortable when i'm a bit covered up tbh! I have a feeling i'm going to be living in this outfit in variation. Love these boots so much, the jeans are amazing, and i do love a bit of plaid flannel shirts. Bit crazy that just a couple days ago it was 90 degrees & it's been in the 60s-70s the past two days. Supposed to get back up to around 80 this week, which i am so disappointed with! Sooo ready for a cold front to come through (bring on the hot chocolate, blankets, & football games!).

I became an Eyeko Embassador yesterday, so if you are ordering anything from Eyeko, definitely go ahead & enter in my code 'E17720' at the checkout! If you spend over $20/£15/18 euro, you get a free gift. :) If you're not ordering anything right now but might in the future, go ahead and click the link to Eyeko's website in the sidebar of my blog & my code will automatically be entered. Just thought i'd add this bit in... sorry for the shameless plug! ;)

P.S. Those of you who do/read outfit posts - how do you title this type of post?/what titles do you prefer? I never know what or how to name them! Haha, i would do song lyrics like many people do, but idk. I suppose i'm just doing whatever atm... so yeah, what do you like to title these posts?

P.P.S. This has been stuck in my head all day; My Body - Young the Giant.
P.P.P.S. I did a blog post yesterday on my trip out to Versailles, but for some reason it's not showing up on anyone's dashboard, here is the link. <3

♥

Day Seven: Versailles

2011-09-05T03:25:00.000-05:00

Photo diary.

-Early morning Metro/confusion of where we were going exactly.

-Finally making it to Versailles.

-Exploring the Chateau/chandelier spam - absolutely stunning!

We spent the morning there, then headed back to Paris (where we went to Notre Dame) - that night we went to the Louvre. My post on the Louvre will be my final post on my trip!

Previous posts.

Day Six: Paris

Day Seven: Notre Dame

♥

Back in the swing of things.

2011-09-01T17:01:00.002-05:00

top - H&M, necklace - Forever 21, earrings - Primark, rings - etsy & H&M, bracelets - Primark & various places

(these were taken when i got home so plz excuse my face & unpainted nails ;P)

Today was the first day back at school - a day i've been dreading for months now! It's sad to think summer is over, it's so hard for me to let good things, like the feeling of complete bliss & freedom (minus work & summer hw) go. Had so many good times this past summer! It feels SO strange to be sitting in a classroom again, i did not miss it at all really! It's so strange to think today was my last first day of high school. Next year i'll (fingers crossed) be packing up & moving into college dorms. So crazy to think about - wish time would slow down a bit :'(

We had a late start to school (freshmen had this orientation thing in the morn') so my friends & i went out to breakfast. I had some super syrupy pancakes, crispy bacon, & some delish cinnamon raisin toast! I do like a big breakfast :'). It was boiling out today so i just wore one of my new fave tops from H&M, which i tucked the front of into a pair of light wash denim cutoffs (also H&M), i carried around a bright red cardigan from my grandma to cover my shoulders/legs with as our AC system in the school is so dodgy - it's freezing in the morning & fluctuates between hot & cold the rest of the day.

As far as classes go, i'm taking a ton of really different classes in comparison to previous years since we had so many hours to fill each semester. This semester i'm taking orchestra (if there's one thing i miss about high school, it'll be this class!), AP calculus, anatomy, approaches to critical reading, AP Spanish, world literature, and sociology. My schedule is pretty good i think & i'm happy to have at least one friend in every class!

Hope everyone else who started school recently is doing okay! Best of luck everyone, we can make it through this year. ;)

♥

New Shoe Love.

2011-08-28T13:40:00.000-05:00

ALDO Ferrise flats - $65.00

I have been in search for the perfect brown ankle boot (preferably with fringe & Native American-esque details) for quite a while now and it wasn't until i went into ALDO the this past week that i was finally satisfied! My mom actually spotted these whilst walking by the shop's window in the mall and i just had to check them out. They didn't have my size in stock, but the girl working was nice & offered to order them in my size and have them sent to my house. I am so pleased with ALDO's customer service, not only was the girl working there very nice (despite being by herself & it being very busy!) and the shoes arrived at my house just two days later, in perfect condition.

Although they're more 'pixie boots' than ankle boots, i think they're really cute & i'm thinking i'll get a lot of use out of them!

Topshop Vectra Studded Slippers - $56.00

I don't think i've wanted a pair of shoes so much in my life. After seeing them on Barbara, i knew they just had to be mine. But, I'm still SO torn on these, although they are absolutely gorgeous, they are incredibly narrow and they are quite painful on my feet. I'm thinking i'm going to try & get the size up, but they're out of stock on Topshop's website, and i don't know when or even if they'll come back in stock (they've been going in and out of stock for a while now). I really don't want to miss out on them, but i just don't think i'll be able to wear this pair since they aren't very comfortable. I don't even know if the size up will fit me any better, but i'm reallyreally hoping they will! Haha, mhm i'm quite pathetic. :P

If anyone knows if they will come back in stock eventually (as opposed to just taking them off the website!) let me know! Plz & thx. :)

♥

Day Seven: Notre Dame

2011-08-26T17:38:00.000-05:00

One of the major highlights of my stay in Paris was visiting Notre Dame. I've always had a 'thing' for Gothic architecture, it's so intricate & detailed, but so dark & a bit haunting at the same time, it's just so beautiful to me. So being able to go in the Notre Dame cathedral was just incredible. The light was quite dim in there, so taking crisp photos was kind of a challenge, but i tried... when i wasn't busy looking up with my mouth wide open/standing in a puddle of my own drool (that was a joke, kind of. haha). It was hard to capture on camera how absolutely massive it was in there, it's really something you have to see for yourself.

Cue the birds. ^_^

Previous posts

Day Six: Paris

♥

The H&M addiction continues.

2011-08-25T09:59:00.001-05:00

My mom & i made an impromptu visit to a mall that is about a 20 minute drive from my house, we justified going there by saying i 'need more practice driving'. ;) I know, i know, i know i've been saying i'm going to try to save my money & not shop as much, but i think once school starts i'll have less time to go shopping (as i won't have as much free time!) and therefore my spending habits will calm down a bit. Well, here's to hoping at least.... haha :l

H&M is quickly becoming my favorite store, i talked about this in my last H&M 'haul' post, but it's very much ~my style~ and their autumn/winter stock they have in at the mo is so nice! After making two returns, i had a very long look around the store (i literally look through every single rack of clothes, sometimes going over the same ones multiple times.. i probably look like a mad woman), tried on a lot of things, and tried to narrow my choices down! Aaaaand here is what i ended up getting.

Collared top - $17.95, striped pocket tank top - $12.95

Once i spotted the top on the left, i knew it had to be mine! I didn't really have a top like this in my wardrobe, and i kind of gasped when i saw it. It's so simple, but i love the black collar & how the black continues down the front. It's slightly longer & drapey. Will look awesome with jeans. Don't really like baring my arms, but i might layer this. Not sure how i the whole collar + sweater/cardi suits me though!

The striped tank top is another basic, and i know i'm going to wear the crap out of it! It's actually perfect. End of really. :)

Denim shirt - $24.95, red cardi w/ black elbow patches - $24.95

I actually tried this denim shirt on during my last H&M visit, but decided against it because it is so massive. I'd been thinking about it since then & when i saw it there again, i just had to pick it up. It was all on it's lonesome so i couldn't find a smaller size, but i'm in love with it. The wash is amazing & feels really nice, i know it will hold up for a while. Love it with the sleeves rolled up & maybe that striped tank underneath with some black jeans? :)

And omg, THIS cardigan. I am, for some reason, completely entranced by elbow patches & have always wanted a sweater/cardigan with the lovely, 'grandpa' detail. I stumbled upon this cardigan and immediately decided i had to get it. I literally want it in every color & pattern (they had black & a few other colors, as well as black & white stripes), but i think i'll have to save that for another time. It was a tough moment letting the other ones go... Haha.

Blazer - 34.95 (my mom actually treated me to this, bless her :'), dress - $9.95

I ended up stocking up on a lot of basics (and all in black, coincidentally!). H&M has a great basics range - tank tops, dresses, etc. in various different colors at very reasonable prices. Two more-'wardrobe staples' i got were the blazer jacket (which i just saw Lily has as well - i'm not copying her with the sweater & the jacket, i swear haha :) & the dress - both can be used to layer and can be used in many different ways - hence, basics!

The blazer is actually perfect, it's not made of the typical, heavy 'suit' material, it's actually a lot more lightweight & a thinner, so i think i will get a lot of use out of it. It's casual, but still very smart. :) I actually had to get a small in the dress as my typical medium was quite large on me, i think it's just H&M sizing tbh! Can be very hit & miss.

Looser, longer black racerback tank - $12.95, basic lace cami - $7.95

Two tank tops! The one on the left is a loose, drapey one that i love layering with, and the length is a bit longer so i think shorter girls could get away wearing it with leggings. It's a really nice material as well, i know i'll get a ton of use out of it. The tank top on the left is to replace one that i've had for a while & has gotten a bit worn out (pun intended). I wear these kinds of camis under everything, i think i have about three or four in my wardrobe now!

Treggings/black jeggings - $12.95

These jegging thingys i'm a little torn on. They are slightly too short & the waist is quite big, but i'm in need on black jeggings & these were only $12.95. I'll have to try them on again & make up my mind, but for now i think they're quite cool. I love the seaming detail that runnings across the thigh (i tried to photograph it but kinda failed) - it runs down the top of the thigh then curves inward & reaches the knee-area. I already have black skinny jeans, but they are so uncomfortable & they're super low rise, i'm hoping to replace those with these!

Red suede ballerina flats - $12.50

White & pink crochet flats - $5.50 each

I ended up stopping by Wet Seal briefly to look at the shoes they had as i actually quite like what they have for shoes most of the time & they're all super inexpensive (apologies for the very wordy sentence). I've been on & off the search for some awesome red flats for a while, and i think these are perfect. The price can't be beat either! I bought a back up pair of my white crochet flats as i absolutely live in them, and they were on a "buy one pair, get another for a penny" deal, so i got the pink as well! So i ended up getting three pairs of shoes for less than $25. That's insanity, in an awesome way of course. ;)

♥

Day Six: Paris

2011-08-13T12:35:00.001-05:00

Ever since i saw Passport to Paris as a little girl, i'd dreamt of going to Paris - it's romanticized in so many movies as 'the city of love' and all, but let's face it, they are just movies! My stay in Paris was short (we spent two days & two nights there) and not exactly picturesque (our hotel was SO unbelievably sleezy & dirty), and it did have it's ups & downs (more downs than ups to be honest). Maybe it's because i fell in love with London and didn't want to leave, but Paris was a letdown *gasp*. I really think the hotel we stayed at put a damper on everything, it made everyone very pessimistic, and the language barrier didn't help at all, but we still tried to enjoy ourselves. I really hate to sound like such a whiner, but i'm just trying to be honest!

We arrived in the late morning by train and spent the day on the bus, stopping to take pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower and at/in Musee de l'Armee during the day, and then at night we had dinner and stopped at Tour Maine-Montparnasse at night to see the Eiffel Tower all lit up.

I think someday i'll have to go back to Paris with a small, really close group of friends or a boyfriend (knock on wood ;) to have a more pleasant and lovely experience there. Someday!

Just one more post left to go on my trip, i'm quite excited for it actually! It involves Versailles & the Louvre. :)

Previous posts

♥

August Birchbox.

2011-08-11T15:35:00.000-05:00

A few people i'm subbed to on Youtube are subscribed to Birchbox & so many people on Twitter and on Blogger are subscribed to Glossybox (the UK version you could call it!) so after seeing countless videos, tweets, blog posts, etc. on them, i just thought 'might as well'! It's only $10 per month & you can cancel at anytime, so i thought it was worth a shot.

Each month has a different theme, and this month's theme was 'beauty innovations' and Birchbox says the products this month are "products that are hopping boundaries, rethinking the compact, and shaking things up." The box came with a card describing each of the products, and that's on the other side of the little letter in the third photo. I think i'll quickly go through each of the products i received & give you my overall thoughts on it! Keep in mind that i haven't tried any of the products out, these are just my first impressions. :)

Befine Night Cream (white tube on the right) & Exfoliating Cleanser (packet in the center) - I'm always a bit hesitant to venture out into different products skincare-wise as my skin is super sensitive & break out-prone! But i do like that these are paraben & fragrance free and claim to be 'natural'. Will probably try these out soon!

Blinc mascara (tube on the top right) - This product really stood out to me out of the rest of them. It's supposed to be one of those mascaras that 'encases your lashes in tubes'.. i've never tried anything like it so i think it will be interesting to try out!

Kate Spade New York Twirl perfume sample - When i saw that this was in my Birchbox, i was a bit like... really? I can get the little perfume samples for free from department stores & such, so it was a disappointment tbh. It does smell quite nice though, very fruity & fresh.

LIFTLAB Lift & Fix High Potency Solution (little glass vile on the left) - This actually looks really interesting! *But* i was very disappointed to see that the cap wasn't screwed on fully & half the product leaked out. Thankfully it was wrapped in tissue paper, but still, half the product is gone now. :P Very frustrating!

Twistband hair tie - This was the *extra* that came in my Birchbox. Haha, a hairband? Really? It doesn't look too special or anything, just elastic tied in a knot on one side...

Overall, i was a bit of a letdown. After seeing previous month's boxes, this doesn't seem all too special. Especially compared to the Glossyboxes in the UK that have many full size products from high-end brands, it was a disappointment! I know Birchbox and Glossybox are not the same company & all, but they are very similar concepts and around the same price range, so i think my argument's a bit justified. The packaging is quite nice and i like that they did take the online survey i took when i subscribed into consideration. I'm going to stay subscribed & hope that next month's box will be better!

♥

Forever 21 and H&M purchases.

2011-08-05T18:26:00.000-05:00

I've been wanting to stop by H&M for ages and finally went today. It seems like it's the one store accessible to me that's in my price range & that carries clothes that are more 'me'. I find that for fashion and styling and such, i really don't look to bloggers here in the US, but more in the UK, it's just my personal taste & what appeals to me! So it helps that H&M also carries the same clothes (for the most part) in every country, so if i see a blogger/Youtuber wearing something from H&M that i really like but doesn't live in the US, i can most likely find the item and get it for myself!

I love that H&M's overall style is chic & polished, but still young & fun. I spent about almost two hours in there and found so many great pieces, sucks i had to narrow my picks down! Maybe another payday....

Sheer 3/4-length sleeve blouse - $29.95, mint green cardigan - $19.95

Can't have too many sheer blouses can you? Think this top will look amazing with dark wash skinny jeans & flats in the fall with a cute bag. Actually had to get it in a size 4 since it was a bit too floaty... too much floatiness on me makes me look/feel really large! I always seem to buy a cardigan when i go into H&M, and this time i got this mint green colored one. I don't have a cardigan this color, think it's quite nice. :)

Aztec print cropped sweaters - $29.95 each

When i spotted this on display, i was like 'oooh, Lily totally has this!' so basically i was sold. Got it in both colors in size 12 so they're a bit bigger. They're super soft & i cannot wait to wear these!

Peach/white/black/pink striped high-waisted shorts - $12.95

These look a bit strange in the photo, but IRL they look kinda cool. When they're on, they are flowy & almost look like a high-waisted skirt, i think these would look nice with leggings & a cardigan as well during the colder months.

Clock ring - $5.95, purple cracked stone ring - around $5 (came with another ring but the stone was missing so i got 10% off)

Forever 21

I recently made another Forever 21 order and didn't pick up too much, as i'm trying to save my money a bit (as you can probably tell, it's not working out too well :P). I got a lace cardigan kinda thing but i didn't even include it in this post because i'm just returning it! I saw they've opened a store on Oxford Street in London and it seems like the overall feelings toward it are disappointment, and a lot of people do seem to like just the jewelry. Thought that was quite interesting, i remember when so many people were excited when they heard 21 was coming to the UK. I think Forever 21 can be quite a hit & miss really.

I'm dying to have stores like New Look or Primark (i can dream.......) open up over here. I think i would die! Or just be completely broke.

Fringe top - $17/18, feather & chain earrings - $5.80

The earrings are about 10" long, so i thought they would look quite cool with my hair down, since they would kind of blend in with my hair! Finally have some feather earrings in my collection. :) The fringe top i'm actually wearing today, very oversized & comfy, but it's made of rayon so it's a bit clingy! Really like it though, glad it's a bit longer as a lot of tops out at the moment are cropped.

Rosary - $4.80/5.80

Probably my favorite item i got, been wearing it with everything!

Feather necklace - $4.80

Considering returning this actually, the feather tends to stick out and it's just not what i thought it was going to be i guess!

♥

Five things.

2011-08-02T17:02:00.000-05:00

The last time i did one of these 'five things' posts was all the way back in December, so i figured i could maybe start it up again. These are five things that have been making me happy/i'm currently obsessed with. Not one of my usual kind of posts, but it's a nice change i think... :)

1. Bon Iver. I recently went to see Bon Iver live (first date of his summer tour ;) and fell so in love with his/their music again. Would definitely pay to see them again, so beautiful! Justin Vernon is incredibly talented & his music is just poetry. May be a bit cheesy to say, but y'know. :) Picked up a t-shirt as well, they're printed on American Apparel tees so they're super comfy!

2. ~*Epic*~ films. If you've followed my blog for a while, you may be aware of my being a super Inception-fangirl. Christopher Nolan is seriously AMAZING and i literally love all of his films, and this one is just insane. Lord of the Rings is also incredible, Peter Jackson is just fantastic and i literally love everything about this trilogy. To me, these are the perfect movies - they're action-y, but they're not mindless (ahem, Transformers, etc.), like they take some thought and actually have substance.

3. Loading up on books to read. I'm currently in the middle of reading the Harry Potter series (i'm just finishing up Chamber of Secrets) and Lolita (yes, still), but that doesn't stop me from adding books to my collection. If i spot one or two while i'm at work, i'll pick them up and put them in this 'to be read' pile next to my bookshelf (my actual bookshelf is literally exploding with books, they're all crammed in there, poor things!). Hopefully i'll be able to finish a few of these up by the time school *cringe* starts. Can't believe i just said that.

4. Yogurt. I have been consuming yogurt like crazy these past couple of days! It just recently became one of my favorite foods, i could quite honestly eat yogurt until i get sick. This Activia stuff is pretty amazing, my sister says i shouldn't have more than two or three a day though, since i could *actually* get sick... sigh! Strawberry & blueberry are probably my faves flavor-wise. :)

5. Hand-me-down computers. My sister recently got a new laptop so she decided to give her old one to me! I'm using it right now actually & i'm quite thankful she was sweet enough to hand it over. :)

♥

Summer wardrobe.

2011-07-28T15:57:00.000-05:00

Quite a while ago, i got a suggestion on Formspring to do a post on my favorite summer clothing items, i quickly got to making a little list, but never took the time to actually take photos. (Sorry girly!) Well, i finally got around to doing so.

I didn't exactly pick out my 'favorite summer clothing items' to show you guys, but i wanted to kind of give a little insight into what kind of clothes i've been wearing during these warmer months. So i split this post into categories based on trends or types of pieces (ie. crop tops, sheer tops, etc.) and picked pieces that i thought did well reflecting each category. I didn't include accessories or shoes, i might do accessories in a different post, but i didn't do shoes because i've literally been faithful to one or two pairs of shoes & i just wear flip flops by the pool/at the beach! I did include bags though, because i view those as an essential, just like a shirt or bottoms. :)

My style is generally kind of 'effortless' & not incredibly dressy or anything, so this summer is no different. I do like to dress up a bit don't get me wrong, but i don't like to look like i've tried too hard. I also just feel more comfortable in generally more casual clothes.

With that being said, here is a little glimpse of what i've been wearing this summer. ♥

Crop tops

I've been quite liking wearing crop tops this summer, particularly with print or typography on them. I generally wear longer crop tops as i don't think i can pull off shorter ones! I typically wear a little cami or tank top under them, like if i'm going to work or something, so my belly's not hanging out (haha, problem area :P).

They look great thrown on with a pair of denim shorts & sandals or flats.

birdcage & 'weekend warrior' tops - Forever 21, triangle print top - thrifted

Sheer tops

I like wearing sheer tops year round really, but i think they look particularly appropriate during the warmer months. There's just a romantic and effortless feel to them, making them really easy & comfortable to wear. For the summer, i like to stick to lighter shades - they just feel more summery & also don't absorb as much light/heat! Again, these look great with shorts or even with dark wash jeans for cooler days or at night.

Peach long sleeve top - H&M, floral two-layer top - New Look, white pussybow blouse - H&M

Color & patterns

Summer is the one time of year i can wear super bright colors & bold patterns without making a spectacle of myself. And with the sun shining & no clouds in the sky, who wants to wear dark or boring clothes anyway? ;) If i'm wearing a top with a bold color or pattern, i like to keep everything else fairly neutral so that piece really gets the focus & it's not too overwhelming.

Bright yellow top - Primark, tribal print top - Forever 21, hot pink pussybow blouse - Primark

Dresses & rompers

If i'm going somewhere that i wouldn't be able to wear something casual (like jean shorts) to or if i just feel like it, i'll throw on a dress or romper like the ones above (they're all dresses, but rompers like the one in this post!). I love anything floral, but mixing it up with tie-dye or another pattern is always nice & summery as well! I typically like my dresses to be cotton dresses (one on the right) or a flowy material (one in middle), i find they're more suitable for the weather. Again, they're something you can just throw on & go!

Both floral dresses - New Look, tie-dye dress - thrifted

Shorts

I'm definitely more of a shorts person than a skirt person as i feel more comfortable in them. I ordered about four pairs of shorts from Forever 21 but have only really worn two pairs of them because i'm quite picky about the fit of them! I think everyone needs a pair of denim shorts in her wardrobe, they're super versatile and always in style. (I've been wanting a pair of studded ones for months now! So edgy & 'cool'). Just as with skirts, it's fun to play with patterns & colors of shorts. :)

Jean boyfriend shorts - H&M, tribal print shorts & pinky/khaki shorts - Forever 21

Crochet/lace vests

If i feel a bit exposed & just want to cover up a bit or want to add a nice detail to an outfit, i'll throw on one of these. I think they're really cute & add a bit of texture and interest to an outfit. I've just realized within the past couple weeks how important texture is in an outfit - if you have a outfit where every piece is solid & flat, it's a bit boring really, and trust me, i've had plenty of outfits like this but just couldn't figure out why they were so uninteresting! These offer a bit of coverage without compromising style and without making you really warm.

Crochet vest - Kohl's, lace vest - thrifted

Denim jackets

I love love love myself a denim jacket! Something about them just shouts 'badass' to me. They're perfect for summer nights as they aren't incredibly, incredibly thick & cozy, but they still offer a bit of warmth. I've acquired four denim jackets just in the past few months in different washes, but the two above are my faves. Love light to medium washed jackets, that are also a bit cropped, but not too much, and of course with the sleeves rolled up. These look awesome over literally everything, and i think as long as the washes aren't too similar, you can pull off wearing them with jeans (for example, i'd wear one of these jackets with dark wash jeans).

Medium wash jacket - thrifted, light wash - Primark

Cross-body bags

No one wants to lug around a big, heavy shoulder bag during the summer (at least i don't....), so a cross-body or messenger style bag is definitely suitable. They'll hold all (or at least most ;) of your 'stuff' and are lightweight so they won't drag you down. Most of them are smaller as well, so it'll force you to only take the essentials. Most of the time i'll take the fringe bag on the left - definitely one of my favorite bags i own, but if i'm going to work or generally have to take more things & bigger things with me, i'll opt for the satchel on the right which has a much bigger capacity. Both are fantastic!

Fringe bag - Primark, satchel - Target

♥

Day Five: Stratford & Oxford

2011-07-27T12:44:00.001-05:00

So this was our fifth and final day in England... *sobs*. Like day three when we took a little trip out to Stonehenge & Bath, this day we took another excursion to Stratford and then Oxford. Stratford was probably one of my favorite parts of the trip, it was such a quaint, lovely city with a bunch of cute stands selling all sorts of things and streets with gorgeous houses & gardens. By the time we got to Oxford, i was pretty tired as we had an early morning & we sat in a boiling hot bus for hours, so i didn't particularly have a spectacular time there, it was still really nice though.

The day was a bit of blur, so i don't have much to say about the places we visited. We did a lot of touristy things, but got to explore a bit, which was nice.

Stratford

Shakespeare's birthplace - we did the tour thing here, pretty cool.

Streets of Stratford, it was a nice day so everyone was out enjoying the day. :)

Holy Trinity Church and Shakespeare's grave

Anne Hathaway's cottage - it was so gorgeous there! The people & the surroundings were so lovely. I signed Shakespeare's birthday card, was kinda cool to see all the other signatures on there - though one person did say "JK Rowling is better" -_-

Lazying it up on the bus, on the way to Oxford.

Oxford

Just have a random mish-mash of photos from Oxford, don't exactly remember what we all saw while we were there. Just walked around the campus really & bought obligatory Oxford gear. ;) I got a bright green hoodie & grabbed a cresant for lunch (wasn't the same without strawberry jam).

We then went back to London for dinner and to see the musical Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Wicked was ah-mazing. I'm not much of a theatre person necessarily, but it was so good! Defying Gravity definitely teared me up, the actors were all incredibly talented and the story was really interesting - would definitely recommend it. :)

After Wicked, we all pretty much went back to the hotel and packed all our stuff up so we didn't have to do it in the morning. The next morning we had a quick breakfast & headed to King's Cross St. Pancras station to take the train to Paris. ♥ So expect a post or two with pictures from Paris!

Previous posts